Château Fleur Cardinale Édition Cinémathèque 2023

Cooler in expression with ripe cherry fruit, blackberry, and a chalky minerality; feels fresher and more profound than in other vintages; immensely crisp, with powdery tannins, elegant, showing polish, precision, and elegance. Excellent!

Crafted from grapes picked within this lovely Grand Cru Classé, and aged for 13 months in 45% new oak (what a nice change from the not-so-distant past, when it was dominated by too much oak tannin), it exudes ripe plum and red berry aromas and flavours, with darker fruit and liquorice on the juicy palate, marked by smooth tannins. The wine also reflects the potential positive energy of the vintage, as its vivacity leads to a medium finish with lift.

The 2023 Fleur Cardinale is rich and ample in the glass, but not at all overdone. Dark-toned fruit, new leather, incense, tobacco, chocolate and lifted floral overtones all meld together. The 2023 builds nicely over time, showing notable charm and tons of class.

Chocolate-covered black cherries, licorice, plums, and espresso nuances are everywhere on the nose and on the lush, polished, round palate. The blend is 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. All that extra Cabernet really makes a difference, adding more freshness, complexity, and individuality. Drink from 2027–2040. 92–94 pts.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Ripe cherries, hints of liquorice, ripe plums, a hint of candied orange zest, inviting bouquet. Juicy, ripe fruit, elegant texture, ripe tannins, subtle nougat, mineral and persistent, salty finish, good ageing potential.

Lush (overripe) bouquet, Demassine, chocolate cream and violet. On the generous palate, creamy texture, lively tension, a mineral core, a tight-knit tannic framework and a sinewy body. In the concentrated finish, strawberry jam, preserved morello cherries and graphite. Rounded off.

Vibrant plum color, silky texture with sweet damson fruit, showing real personality and lift, beautifully measured progression through the palate. This has cocoa bean, liquorice, black tea, pomegranate, a ton of energy and concentration, well-judged grilled oak. pH 3.6. 45% new oak, plus amphoras, foudres, demi-muids, 15 hl/ha yield, so extremely low, making the skillful assemblage of the wine even more impressive. Decoster family.

Score: 89–91. Strawberry and raspberry blend their aromas in a deliciously enticing nose, very round and juicy. These notes carry through to a fairly bright palate with velvety tannins.

Plum paste and cherry preserves are layered together, with a snap of red licorice and a spine of gently singed apple wood on the finish. Nicely rendered. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2027 through 2037. 6,400 cases made.